CAN Channel 9 salvage 2016? That is the question media experts are asking with the network posting a horror start to the ratings year.

The total audience for Nine’s main channel has plummeted nearly 13 per cent in prime time (6pm to midnight) compared to last year. It is down a whopping 24 per cent in the advertiser-friendly 16 to 54 demographic. Seven is up half a per cent in prime time. Ten has slipped around 2 per cent.

The Block is missing from Nine’s line-up. Replacement shows Australia’s Got Talent, The Embassy and The Farmer Wants a Wife have stiffed — crushed by a rampant My Kitchen Rules.

Seven has rubbed salt into Nine’s wounds by stacking its start to 2016 with the big events including the Molly miniseries.

Rebecca Gibney’s Wanted, relationship show First Dates, and the final season of Downton Abbey have also rated strong. Seven’s main channel is up half a per cent compared to last year.

“I totally believe a great start to the year gives you momentum,” Seven program chief Angus Ross says.

The Molly miniseries gave Seven a great start to 2016. Picture: Andrew Tauber.Source:News Corp Australia

“It means that later in the year you’re not constantly playing catch-up. It also gives you a buffer for any missteps down the line.”

So why has Nine got it so wrong in prime time? One of the main reasons, according to experts, is the decision to drop The Block.

Last year, The Block Triple Threat was in a three-way reality war at 7.30pm against My Kitchen Rules and Ten’s new I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

Nine’s event series The House of Hancock rated strongly. Gallipoli was a disappointment.

This year, Nine took a different tack. It decided to launch with light entertainment and comedy shows instead of engaging in another three-way reality war.

Despite having success with The Block Triple Threat last year, Nine decided to avoid another three-way reality war with the other channels.Source:Supplied

Experts say that decision has turned out to be flawed.

“For Nine to hold back The Block was the biggest programming mistake they could make,” Maxus Asia Pacific head of trading Nathan Cook says.

“To expect they would deliver the same audience with a much weaker format would be naive and the first month’s audience figures have reflected this.”

Ten decided to hold back Gogglebox and Shark Tank. It has used The X-Files and The People v O.J. Simpson to boost its 2016 start. Neither US series has been a ratings smash.

Now the big question is whether Nine can turn things around with its post-Easter line-up.

Nine will screen the return series of Reno Rumble against the final weeks of My Kitchen Rules.

Nine also has more Married at First Sight as well as new Daryl Somers-hosted hypnotism show You’re Back in the Room. The Verdict will return. Its biggest gun is The Voice with new mentor Ronan Keating.

“Our upcoming schedule set to commence after Easter is brimming with arguably the strongest second-quarter slate we have broadcast,” Nine’s director of television, Michael Healy, says.

Hey Hey It’s Saturday star Daryl Somers is set for a comeback, returning to our screens with a new hypnosis show. Picture: Alex Coppel.Source:News Corp Australia

But will it be enough to turn things around?

“It is going to be impossible for them to equal last year’s figures, with the lack of momentum they have presently, let alone make up ground,” Allen says. “In my opinion Nine will continue to struggle.”

Nine won’t have it all its own way. Seven will roll out a new season of House Rules, dating show Kiss Bang Love, the final season of Winners & Losers, and travel show Billy Connolly Tracks Across America.

Seven will also launch a mystery new title, Cannonball, screen the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Australian Swimming Championships, and AFL football.

“We are foot to the floor,” Ross says.

Chrissie Swan’s new show Long Lost Family will tell the heartwarming tales of family reunions.Source:Channel 10

Ten has All-Star Family Feud, Territory Cops and Long Lost Family starting this week. After Easter, MasterChef will return and there will be more Shark Tank and Gogglebox.

“The best is yet to come in terms of our content,” Ten program chief Beverley McGarvey says.

Nine’s troubles come after it made radical changes to its programming philosophy in the past 12 months.

In a bold move, Nine dropped all of its output deals for American shows except The Big Bang Theory.

Instead, Nine is investing an extra $100 million in local programming over three years — more than any time in its history.

“We’ve seen a trend over the past decade whereby programs made in Australia for Australians are the ones that resonate most with viewers,” Healy, said recently.

This week Nine announced that Rodger Corser is set to play the lead in its new Aussie drama, Doctor Doctor. Nine also announced that former Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan is joining the cast of House Husbands.

Nine also revealed that it would revive 20 to 1 and commence production on Amazing Homes, The Briefcase, Unreal Estate, and Sex Ed.

Seven pounced late last year and hurt Nine by grabbing repeats of The Big Bang Theory in a multi-million dollar deal.

“Nine have programming problems, which cannot be fixed overnight, let alone this year,” Allen says. “Nine need to commission many more programs than in the pipeline, since they abandoned USA/imported content”.

photo galleryDorky celeb prom pics

Taylor Swift - Taylor doesn’t seem quite so elated about the school prom as her date does. Picture: Supplied2 of 14

Beyonce - The one that got away... Beyoncé’s high school boyfriend, Lyndall Locke, must be kicking himself for that every day. Picture: Supplied3 of 14

Shailene Woodley - looking completely unrecognisable in this pic, that hippie headband is doing her no favours. Picture: Supplied4 of 14

Taylor Lautner - Seems as though he may have been getting some hairstyling tips from Sonic the Hedgehog. Picture: Supplied5 of 14

Lady Gaga - There were no meat dresses available back then which explains Gaga’s slightly more conventional outfit than usual. Picture: Supplied6 of 14

Britney Spears - Utterly adorable. We defy you not to “aww” when you see this one. Picture: Supplied7 of 14

Jessica Alba - The actress is so sweet and innocent-looking in this photo you half expect her to burst into a song from The Sound of Music. Picture: Supplied8 of 14

Bruno Mars - It’s clear who wore the trousers in this relationship. Picture: Supplied9 of 14

Ellen Degeneres - Whether it’s her dress-come-school-uniform, her mullet, her date, or a combination of all three, Ellen’s unusually glum expression indicates she didn’t need the benefit of hindsight to know things were totally awry here. Picture: Supplied10 of 14

Liam Payne and some girls that wouldn’t look out of place on an episode of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Picture: Supplied11 of 14

Will Ferrell - Comedian Will Ferrell proves he was always a joker in this black and white prom photo where he sports a tiara. Picture: Supplied12 of 14

Jennifer Aniston - Even Jen knows there’s something wrong with her hair in this photo. Thankfully the dress saved her. The Friends star bucked the trend and kept things classy with her chic LBD. Picture: Supplied13 of 14

George Clooney - Suave as ever, George Clooney was clearly always destined to be a silver fox. Picture: Snapper Media14 of 14

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